Medhurst: Fired By Virginia Tech, Could TV Be In Seth Greenberg’s Future?

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 15: Head coach Seth Greenberg of the Virginia Tech Hokies reacts from the sideline during the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the semifinals of the 2008 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament at Bobcats Arena on March 15, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver and Associate Athletic Director Tom Gabbard decided last week that Seth Greenberg wasn’t going to get an extension for the next two years and therefore today fired the nine-year head man.

Greenberg was 170-123 in his nine years and led to Hokies to one NCAA appearance. The biggest reason, it seemed, was poor staff retention in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech lost six assistant coaches in the past four years.

Rather than possibly having to pay two staffs if they made the move later down the road, Weaver said it was an optimum time to make a change now.

“We weren’t going to extend at the end of next year, nor they year after,” said Weaver. “So, we felt it made all the sense in the world now was the time to make a change and go in a new direction.”

Because of a lack of basketball staff at the university there is no interim coach.

When asked whether an interim coach would have been named if there were adequate staff, Weaver said, “in all likelihood, yes.”

“Of course I say that not having been confronted with that scenario,” he added.

Greenberg received word of Weaver and Gabbard’s decision at 1:30 this afternoon.

“I did quite frankly like direction the program was going with the staff leaving,” said Weaver. “I want the next coach to have the same family atmosphere and camaraderie that the rest of our teams at Virginia Tech seem to have.”

This now puts the Tech program in an interesting spot. Getting an established head coach is always the optimum desire, but this late in the proceedings even the lure of an ACC job could make for an interesting search.

Ironically, Greenberg’s name surfaced earlier this month in the potential job at SMU which was offering big money. However, he never expressed interest in pursuing the opportunity.

Greenberg will likely have a TV job in the next ten minutes. His personality is excellent as evidenced by multiple appearances during the NCAA Tournament.

Ironically, it may have been his availability during the tournament that is the reason why he will likely be doing that full-time now.